Support for trolley-wires



(No Model.)

G. K. WHEELER. SUPPORT FOR TROLLEY WIRES.

Patented May 26, ,1891.

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UNITED STATES GEORGE K. IVIIEELER,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SUPPORT FOR TROLLEY-WIRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 453,070, dated May 26, 1891. Application filed November 21, 1890. Serial No. 372,187. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, GEORGE K. WHEELER, of Chicago, Cook county, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Support for TrolleyWVires, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a sectional elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan, of one of my basket-ears. Figs. 3 and 4 are sections on the corresponding lines of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is like Fig. 4, but with the ears closed down.

My invention relates to the support of trolley-wires; and it consists in a metallic basket or trough adapted to receive the trolley-wire, and also adapted to admit the passage of the trolley-wheel, and provided with cars which can be bent over the trolley-wire after it is placed in the trough, in order to hold the wire in proper contact with the trough, and also provided with means for connecting it to the usual insulator between it and the span-wire.

In that form of my invention shown in the drawings, a is a trough or basket, of metal, for receiving the trolley-Wire Z2, which is held in place by bending over the ears a, formed by omitting a portion of the sides of the trough or basket. This forms an excellent support for the trolley-wire, which is readily put in place and secured by the cars a. The surface contact between trough a and the trolleywire 1) is so large that the current passes without appreciable resistance from the wire b to the trolley-wheel when the trough a is between the wheel and the wire; The outer portion of trough a is shaped to allow the trolleywheel to roll upon it, and as long as the trolley-wheel is in contact with the basket-ear a the current passes through that car, this being the distinguishing feature of my invention-that is, the ear itself forms part of the conductor when the trollcy-wh eel is in contact with it. The ends of the trough a are thinned to allow the trolley-wheel to pass easily from the trolley-wire onto the surface of the trough and from the trough to the wire again. The trough a is best sustained by one or two hangers o by which the ear is connected With the insulator on the span-wire. The trolley-wire may of course be soldered to my basket-ear; but that is unnecessary when the ears a are numerous, and practical advantages arise from dispensing with solder and holding the trolley-wire in place by the ears only, for the ears may at any time be straightened and the trolley-wire readjusted, as is often highly desix-able.

I am aware of Hallbauer and Hillers patent, No. 483,896, dated August 5, 1890, and No. 422,164 to Stearns and myself, dated February 25, 1890; but the contrivances shown in those patents are radically unlike my new ear for trolley-wires, and are accordingly disclailned herein.

That I claim as my invention is The'herein-described support for trolleywires, consisting of trough a, provided with ears'a', and a hanger a the ears and hanger extending away from the bottom of the trough in the same direction, and the outer surface of the trough opposite ears 0/ being formed to serve as a track for the trolley-Wheel, all substantially as set forth.

GEORGE K. IVIIEELER.

Witnesses:

F. J. WILLsoN,

H. J. SINCLAIR. 

